Hamas holds Gaza rally to ‘defend’ Al-Aqsa

Israeli security forces stand in front of a Palestinian worshipper performing Friday prayers in a street outside the Old City in east Jerusalem on Friday.

GAZA CITY: Hundreds of Palestinians in Gaza participated in a Hamas-organized rally Friday over Jerusalem’s flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque, the scene of recurring clashes between Israeli security forces and Palestinians in recent days.

Leaving mosques after prayers in Gaza City, they chanted slogans pledging to defend the mosque and waved green flags, the color of the Hamas movement that is de facto ruler of Gaza. The rally was also attended by other Palestinian factions, including the militant Islamic Jihad.

Ismail Radwan, a Hamas leader, called on “our people in Jerusalem and the West Bank to defend Al-Aqsa.” Israeli police spokeswoman Luba Samri said 5,000 people participated in Friday’s prayers at Al-Aqsa, which passed without event. Police had barred men under the age of 50 from accessing the holy site to prevent disturbances.

On Wednesday, four Palestinians were arrested following clashes with police at the Old City site.

Two days earlier, demonstrators clashed with security officers when non-Muslims were to visit the site.

The site is the scene of frequent tensions and also houses the Dome of the Rock, an Islamic shrine.

It is revered by Jews, who call it the Temple Mount, as the location of the biblical Jewish temples and considered Judaism’s holiest place.

Israeli border policeman push Palestinian women during clashes in the Old City of Jerusalem, in this Oct. 13, 2014 photo. Israeli police clashed with young Palestinian protesters demonstrating against Jews visiting the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, Islam’s third holiest site, a spokeswoman said.